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(No Model.)

.'T.- P. MARSTON.

Tag Fastener. v No. 24'3,384.- Patented June 28, I881.

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UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE THOMAS P. MARSTON, on NEW YORK, N. Y., AssIeNoR T0 HOLMES,BOOTH & HAYDENS, or SAME PLACE.

TAG-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 243,384, dated June 28, 1881.

Application filed November 11, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS P. MARSTON, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented an Improvementin Tag-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of devices intended for attaching tags, 850., to the edges of fabrics and other like articles; and it consists in a metallic fastener for such purposes, of novel construction, and capable not only of almost instantaneous attachment to the fabric or similar article without injury thereto, but also capable of permitting a loose and free attachment of the tag, corresponding in a measure to that which arises from a flexible attachment, but at a much less expense in manufacture and attachment than is incident to the use of the ordinary string or flexible loop.

The drawing represents a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of my improved tag-fastener.

A indicates the tag, of any suitable shape, size, and material, and provided with the usual eyelet or hole a.

B represents the tag-fastener, which is composed of a strip of sheet metal bent into the form represented in the drawing-that is to say, with the bow b at its central part, and

with its end portions constituting two straight shanks, brought into a position opposite each other, and more or less parallel. In each of these shanks is provided one or more sharp spurs, 0, these spurs being formed by punching the metal from the outside, as clearly indicated in the drawing.

In order to apply the device to use it is slipped through the eyelet a of the label A until the said eyeletis brought upon the bow b, which donethe two shanks aforesaid are placedastride of the edge of the fabric or other goods to which the tag is to be attached, and are then compressed toward each other until the spurs c are caught into or forced through from the opposite sides of the fabric, the degree of compression being necessarily such as will overcome any elastic or spreading tendency of the device, so that the two shanks will remain permanently upon the opposite sides of the goods or fabric.

It will be seen that inasmuch as the device may be formed or manufactured by very simple mechanical operations, and inasmuch as its application to use is very simple, the tagfastener thus provided possesses in a high degree the merits and advantages of cheapness, simplicity, easy adaptation to use, and security in the attachment of the tag or label to the fabric or goods.

I am aware that fastening devices have been made of sheet metal folded to form two parallel shanks, each provided with spurs formed by punching the metal from the outside. Such devices are shown in the patent of Tunny, No. 207,694, and of Spooner, No. 66,053 but these and, so far as I am aware, all others differ from mine in structure in this essential respect, that either no provision is made for the loose or swinging attachment of the tag, or this provision is made by means of a character quite different from that shown in my invention. Thus, for example, in Tunnys device the opening is at right angles to the shanks, and is necessarily formed, not by the contour or bending of the metal, but by a separate punching operation; while Spooners device is designed to insure a rigid attachment, and is therefore inconsistent in purpose, function, and operation from my invention. I do not therefore claim, broadly, a metallic tag-fastener composed of sheet metal bent to form two parallel shanks and provided with holding-spurs formed by punching the metal from the outside; but

What I claim as my invention is-- The tag-fastener constructed with the bow I), shanks B B, and spurs c, the bow connecting the shanks and having the substantially circular shape described to permit the loose or swinging attachment of the tag, substantially as herein set forth.

T. P. MARSTON.

Witnesses CHAS. H. DOXAT, H. PAHNIERI. 

